Farmington seeks landscaping grant

FARMINGTON - Selectmen voted to approve applying for a Community Gateways matching grant for $10,000 Tuesday.

The state's Department of Transportation has funding available to enhance towns' entrances, and the triangular island between Water and Bridge streets and Wilton Road in Farmington has been identified as an area in need of beautification.

Representing the town's conservation commission, Bobbie Hanstein presented selectmen a plan for the small plot that includes adding fill to elevate the area slightly, a sidewalk and a sign board to replace the telephone poles currently used for banner announcements of community events. The plan also shows three red oaks, two maples, three white ash and three lilacs anchored in the center by a white spruce. The walkway will meander through two perennial flower beds on the Wilton Road side of the plot. Robert Zundel, a local landscape architect, donated his services to create the plan.

Selectmen had some concerns about the plan, including traffic visibility and a lack of greenery in the winter. All but one of the dozen trees is an evergreen.

Mary Wright said she would like to see some low evergreen shrubs to provide some color in winter. The current plan, she said, "won't do much nine months out of the year."

She also wondered who would maintain the small island. Hanstein promised the services of the commission.

Sheriff Dennis Pike, also a selectman, said he liked the plan, saying it was an excellent proposal. He had no concerns with visibility, as the trees' limbs will be high enough to provide visibility below.

Visibility was a key factor in the design, said Hanstein, who also agreed to add some evergreen shrubs to the plan. The idea, she said, was to create a parklike atmosphere.

Selectmen voted to approve the plan with the caveat that evergreen shrubs be added. Wright voted against it.

"I hate to be opposed to this," she said. "I can't vote for it the way it is." She said she'd want to see a revised plan before approving it.